Segments in this Video

Dorothy Rowe in Conversation: Introduction(02:16)

Frank Wills will interview Dorothy Rowe at the School of Social Studies. They will discuss Rowe's ideas about depression and treatment. Wills reflects on the history of treating depression.

Rowe's Background(07:44)

As an adult, Rowe realized her mother had depression; she feels fortunate her parents were not consistent. Rowe earned a degree in psychology, taught for five years, started a family, and returned to teaching as an educational psychologist. She earned a degree in clinical psychology, divorced, and went to Europe where she earned her PhD.

Personal Construct Psychology(06:17)

How we interpret what happens to us determines what we do. Rowe reflects on Freudian analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy. To understand what a reward or punishment is, you have to see it from the other person's point of view.

Depression Research(03:22)

Although Alec Jenner could not explain depression and mania through biochemistry, he made physiological findings; no evidence proves that a chemical imbalance causes depression.

Depression Research: Anger(05:04)

Rowe worked with severely depressed individuals and saw that pills did not change the situation. She sees value in anger, but anger threatens to disrupt relationships. For many people, depression is anger turned inward.

Anti-Psychiatry (08:04)

R. D. Laing believed schizophrenia had something to do with family relationships. Rowe became head of the psychology department in Lincolnshire. She and Wills discuss the conflict between psychoanalytic psychiatrists and behavioral psychologists. Psychiatric nursing started changing in the 1970s.

Broadening the Movement(03:59)

Rowe and her team had a weekly meeting that included nurses and the prison chaplain; counseling courses soon started. Professionals began realizing mental health was more than an organic problem. Rowe earned a reputation for being cantankerous because she challenged the medical model.

Self-help Books(08:29)

Rowe explains how "Experience of Depression" became a self-help book. She discusses the elements of "Construction of Life and Death" and how a public lecture became "Depression, the Way Out of Your Prison." Rowe compares depression to unhappiness and discusses feedback from readers.

"Depression, the Way Out of Your Prison" (03:36)

Wills felt that parts of the book were like watching a dialogue between Rowe and someone else. She wrote the book with a specific audience in mind; her other books were for a more general audience.

Professional Insight (06:23)

Wills considers why he feels comfortable working with those who are depressed. Rowe describes the cycle of emotions people often feel when working with depressed clients; a depressed person is not a threat the Wills.

Therapy Criticisms(08:01)

Wills notes the short-term nature of the cognitive therapy model; he finds it less oppressive to the client. Rowe states that a counselor has to adapt to the circumstances he or she is in; always remember the referring problem is not the real problem. They discuss follow-up appointments.

New Work and Final Reflections(03:59)

Rowe writes regularly for "Open Mind" and "Saga Magazine." She emphasizes the need to treat one another as human beings.

Credits and Resources(02:00)

The School of Health and Social Sciences is developing a range of resources for counselors, training sessions, and those seeking to improve communication skills. (Credits)

Description

Dorothy Rowe challenged the primacy of the medical model of depression, advocating for alternative approaches. In this discussion with Frank Wills, Rowe explains the origin and development of her ideas, considers her interest in depression, and discusses the impact of her writings.